Gravure printing press



Oct. 3l, 1939. c. R. KADDELAND GRAVURE PRINTING PRESS 4 Sheets-Sheetl lFiled June 3G, 1935 'unwNNNNNNNNNNNNwNNNNNNMS iNvENToR msnen re.KADDELANU Oct. 3l, 1939. c, R. KADDELAND GRAVURE PRINTING PRESS FiledJune 30, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w m y..

E il.. VEL mgl E i.lll l--- INVENTOR CHRISTEN KKH DDELHND BY ATTORNEYOct. 31, 1939. c. RA KADDELAND I GRAVURE PRINTING PRESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed June 30, 1935 INVENTOR CHR5T'EN R. KADO LANP ATTORNEY Oct. 3l,1939. c, R, KADDELAND GRAVURE PRINTNG PRESS Filed June 30, 1933 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE iGRAVURE rRm'rmG PRESS christen R. Kaaaelana, sueltan, conn., assigner.to Harris-Seybold-Potter Company, Cleveland, i Ohio, a corporation ofDelawarev Application June 30, 1933, Serial-No. 678,431

29 Claims. (Cl. 101-157) My invention relates to improved methods inrotary gravure printing and improved rotary gravure presses usingintaglio printing cylinders, 'and more particularly to new and usefulimprovements in the inking .methods and mechanisms for applying liquidink in va solid stream to the printing-cylinder.

The objects ofmy invention are, among other things, to attain a complteand effective inking of the design on the printing cylinder, and, in

certain aspects, my invention is particularly adapted for using thequick-drying inks now used in very rapid rotary gravure printing.

According to my invention, I provide a comand the inked design thereonis almost imme-Y diately printed on the paper without allowing thehighly volatile ink to dry on such printing cyl- :i0 inder. y

According to my inventionl this ink is forced to ow outwardly in a solidvolume or stream from the confined `body of ink, more or less incirculation, under pressure along the surface of 35 the design on theprinting cylinder so as to dissolve and wash away any dried ink or otherobjectionable foreign matter adhering to this design to' the end that aclean and freshly inked design is almost immediately presented at thel40 printing line of the paper;

My invention is adapted for use in many types of rota-ry gravurepresses, and may be used, for example,l in those web gravure presses ofthe type disclosed in my application for U. S. Letters 45 Patent illedMay 20, 1933, Serial No. 671,992,

' now patented, Number-2,064,168. dated Dec. 15,

1936, which embodies, among other things.' a novel andr simpliiied'typeof rotary printingpress in which the intaglio printing cylinder oi.'

im a printing unit is rotatable in either direction' through areversible clutch drive, the press frames'being shaped to permit thelprinting cylinder to be readily installed in, or removed from, the pressfrom either end of the printing unit, 55 whereby an exchange of printingcylinders may be made which is an important advantage in rotary gravurepresses.

Further objects of my invention are, among other things, to provide anew and improved form of ink distribution system for the intagliocylinders that may be arranged as desired on eitheg side of the printingcylinder depending on t e direction yoi cylinder rotation as well asabove or below the lateral diameter of such cylinder whenever required.i.

' A further object is to provide improved mechanism for forcing thevolatile liquid ink under pressure against the etched surface of therevolving printing-cylinder togethery with means for maintainingpressure for the ink mpinging against the etched surface, whileembodying improved devices to remove (the surplus ink and return same tothe source of supply for preservation and re-use.

A further object oi. my invention is toprovide an improved inkdistribution for gravure printing presses by which the volatile liquidink will be. distributed over the rotating vintaglio printing cylinderwithout permitting any of the ink to ,escape during'the inking process,except that 25 reqpired to iill the ink wells in this cylinder whichrepresent the image to be printed. My improved deviceis also builtinsuch manner as to t,

of the reciprocating doctor blade or knife so that the pressure of thisdoctor blade or knife against the printing cylinder may .be variedtransversely across the press to insure perfectl removal of the surplusink without injuring or defacing the engraved surfaces of such cylinder.

Afurther feature of my invention is the proe vision of a novel formof`doctor blade mechanism for use in my shiftable ink distributionsystem by which the doctor blade' or blades may be readily moved awayfrom the printing cylinder when an exchange of printing cylinders is tobe made, coupled with improved mechanism for imparting the usualreciprocating movement of the doctor blade across the etched surface ofthe revolving cylinder whereby a uniform and ,f

even movement is given to this doctor blade in all parts of itssuccessive cycles.

A further feature of my invention is a novel form for the ink `fountainwhich comprises an intaglo printing cylinder;

inner pressure chamber closely adjacent to the periphery of the printingcylinder, which pressure chamber has a comparatively narrow aperture soas to permit the ink to escape in all four directions against thecylinder surface so that any residue on the cylinder may be washed awayby the passage of fresh ink. The surplus i k iiows into i a normalpressure return cham er surrounding the pressure chamber, from whichreturn chamber the surplus ink is conveyed to the supply reservoir inwhich the ink is agitated and mixed with the fresh ink supply, and bymeans of a pump forced back into the pressure chamber, thereby making acomplete circulating system in which the solid matters and liquidsolvent are constantly kept in solution.

Further objects .and advantages will appear hereinafter and beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, and the drawings show apreferred embodiment of my invention as; applied to a web gravureprinting-press such as is shown and described in my said co-pendingapplication Serial No, 671,992, in which my improved ink distributionsystem herein disclosed is particularly adapted for use. However, myimprovements are not necessarily limited to any particular form or type`of gravure printingpress construction. Y

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the lower portion of a web gravure presslooking from the right in Fig.

3 and embodying my improvements as positioned on the intaglio printingclinder, certain parts being shown in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is' an end elevation of the ink reservoir and associateddevices,- partly -in section, and locatedv outside the press frames`tothe left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the press and ink reservoir with the inkfountain shown in dotted lines and looking from left of Figs.` 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section ofzthe ink fountain and doctorblade with' associated devices arranged in contact with the printingcylin-` der that are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevation View looking from thez right of Fig. 4;

of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section'on the line 1- 1 Fig. 9 is a detail sideview showing the` guide' bracket for the ink fountainand mechanism forreciprocating the doctor blade;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section of the doctor blade and associateddevices 'also shown in Fig.. 4; Fig. 11 is a sectional view,similar toFig. 4; showing the undershot ink fountain and `doctor blade whenlocated on the under sides of the ='Fig. 12 is a digrammatic lay-out ofthe different positions for the ink fountains in relaticn to theprinting cylinder that ymayloe rotated in.

either direction as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional vievv taken on the..

line I3-I3 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 14 is a detail elevation looking from the y right of Fig. 11 whenthe printing cylinder is removed. s e

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.v

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs 1 and 3, thepress frames I5 and I6k are mounted on the base I1 in spaced-apartrelation to aord sufilcient space efor the cylinders of the printingunit and their respective shafts which are preferably removable andadjustable in the press frames I5 and I6, as more particularly set forthin my pending application for patent Serial No. 671,992 hereinbeforementionedL The web gravure printing-press proper comprises the printingcylinder I8 having its shaft I9 journalled in the press frames I5 and I6(Fig. 1), the therewith coacting rubber cylinder 20 and the pressurecylinder 2| of the usualconstruction and mounting (Fig. 3). The web W isalso shown in Fig. 3 in printing relation with the cylinders I8 and,20.

The printing cylinder shaft I9 carries outside the press frame I6 thecoupling member 22 which is releasably engaged by the pins 23 pinnedtothe coupling member 24 slidably secured to the short shaft 25journaled in the standard 26 as shown to the left in Fig. 1. The shaft25 carries the bevel gear 21 that is driven by the bevel gear 28fastenedv to the power shaft 29 that printing cylinder I8 as shown inthe upper part .of Fig. 12 depending upon the direction of rotation Vofthe printing cylinder I8.y

- The arms 30. and 3| are held in proper angular positionto secureradial adjustment of the ink fountain for cylinders of different sizesby latch pins 32 that engage suitable holes drilled in the press framesI5 and I6 to make the proper adjustments.

e Means are provided for adjustably mounting the ink fountain andassociated devices on the i @swinging arms 30 and 3I to accommodate forFig. 6 is asectional detail view of the line 6-6 printing cylinders I8having variable diameters which are best shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 9: Suchdevices are duplicated on the press frames I5 and I6, and a descriptionof one set will suffice for both. Taking the swinging arm 30 (to theleft in Fig, 1)-, the guide bracket 33 which supports the ink fountainis sleeved on the arm 30 which carries on its upper end the 'apertured'lug 34 through which passes the screw-bolt 35 having its upper end 35squared for a wrench. This screw-bolt 35 passes through the interiorlythreaded lug 31 on the upper end ofthe guide bracket 33, While the lowerend of the guide bracket 33 carries the collar 38 that slides on the arm3|. By this mechanism vthe guide bracket 33 may be raised or lowered onthe arm 30 to make adjustments ofthe position ,of the inkv fountain andassociated devices relatively tothe printing cylinder I8 and suchbracket 33 is'held in position on the arm 30 by the set-screwv 39 (Figs.3 and 9).

Pinned to the collars ss on either sideof lthe press inside the pressframes I5 and l8 (Figs. 1 and 9) is the flat cross-plate 4|)y thatsupports the ink fountain and associated devices that are best shown inFigs. 1, 3, 4 and 9: Mounted on the plate 40 is the inkfountain propercomprising an irregularly shaped casting 4I having the end walls 42 and43 (Figs. 1, 6 and 7), which carry vthe wedge-shaped ink pressurechamber 44 formed in the casting 45 with the top plate 46 and underplate 41 to form an elongated narrow orifice 48 through which the inkunder pressure is forced against,and impinges on, the cylinder I8 asshown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 6.

The spacing blocks 49 secure the pressure chamber 44 to the fountaincasting 4I fastened to thesupport plate 40 which also carries a exibleplate 95 adapted to rest against the periphery of the cylinder |8.

The end walls 42 and 43 are fastened and sealed to the fountain casting4I and support plate 40 in such manner as to leave a space between theclosed ends of the pressure chamber 44 and these end walls 42 and 43,and also allow the ends of the printing cylinder I8 to project beyondthe end walls 42 and 43. The end walls 42 and 43 are also formed so asto support the ends of the L-shaped doctor blade bar |I3 with the doctorblade ,94 and supporting plate |I8, and are provided with a U-shapedpacking 54 held in contact with the cylinder I8 (Figs. 4, 6 and 7) bymeans of the exible spring 53 arranged within the elongated socket 50and secured by means of clamp screw and washer 52 to the end walls 42and 43.

The resiliency of the packing 54 and spring 53 compensates for cylindersof various sizes, a small cylinder I8 beingshown in dot and dash linesin Fig. 7. This construction affords a substantially air-tight-receiving chamber surrounding the pressure chamber 44, the upperportion being indicated at 96, while the lower portion of this receivingchamber is indicated at 91.

Means are provided for forcing the liquid ink under pressure from thesource of supply through the pressure chamber 44 against the etched orengraved surface of the printing cylinder I8, combined with means toreturn the surplus ink removed from such surface by the doctor blademechanism to the source of supply for preservation and re-use, all ofwhich is best shown in Figs. 1-6; Outside the press frame I5 is the inksupply reservoir 55 mounted on the legs 56 and is provided with theinlet 51 and cap 58 through which the ink is poured into the reservoir55 when the cap 58 is removed. Centrally mounted within the reservoir 55is the rotary shaft 59 driven by the sprockets 60 around which passesthe chain 6I actuated by the sprocket 83 mounted onthe shaft 64 of themotor 85 fastened to the top of the side-wall 86 of the reservoir 55'(Fig. 2).

Fastened to the shaft 59 near the bottom of the reservoir 55 are a pairof stirrers 81 that agitate the ink to maintain a uniform consistency insolution before the ink passes through the circular opening 68 in thebottom v69 of the reservoir which supports the rotary centrifugal pumpcasting 10. The pump proper is ,composed of the rotary member 1Ifastened to the lower portion of the shaft 59 by the cross pin 12. TheVend of the shaft 59 revolves in the socket bearing 13 in the casting10.

The member 1I' has formed therein a plurality of outwardly flaring'passages 14 (two being shown in Fig. 2) ,through which the ink is drawnfrom the reservoir 55 as indicated by the arrows and forced underpressure against the sidewalls of the casting into the circular chamber15 from which the ink under pressure passes through the pipe to thepressure chamber 11 formed in the casting 1'8 that is supported on thebase 19 between the press frames I5 and I6.

Pivotally mounted to the casting 18 on the hollow roller 80 is therocking pipe casting 8| having the circular chamber 82 that registerswith the pressure chamber 11. This chamber 82 communicates with the pipe83 fastened to the top of the casting 8| and the smaller pipe 84 isadjustably telescoped within the pipe 83 where it is held againstleakage by the stuffing-box 85. As shown in Figs, 1 and 3, the upper endof the pipe 84 is' connected with the chamber 86 formed in the casting81 rotatably pivoted on the hollow roller 88 to the casting 89 fastenedby screws 90 to the ink fountain casting 4I and the cross bar 9| securedto the ink fountain end walls 42 and 43 (Fig. 1). The chamber 86communicates with the chamber 92 formed in the casting 89, which chamber92 is connected by the pipe 93 to the inner pressure chamber 44 to forcethe liquid ink against the periphery of the cylinder I8 throughout itswidth which is less than the distance between the end walls 42 and 43that carry felt pads 54 as shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 6. Thearrows in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 indicate the path of the ink forced underpressure from the bottom of the reservoir 55 to the cylinder I8.

'I'he liquid ink that is forced against the cylinder I8 forms a closedink-circulating system due to the highly volatile nature of the solventused in the manufacture of the ink. Such solvent always forms sufficientvapor to replace, in fact more than replace, the volume of liquid inkcarried out of the closed system by the revolving printing-cylinder I8,so that the space within the system not occupied by the liquid ink iscompletely lled by the saturated solvent vapor. Such closed system forthe ,circulating ink is one of the advantages of my invention in thatthe escape of such highly-explosive saturated vapor is prevented. Evenwith the use of a non-vaporizing liquid printing ink, any vacuum causedby 7 withdrawal of such ink would not interfere with the proper coatingof the cylinder I8,\since in printing practice the circulating system,and more particularly the reservoir 55, is never completely filled withthe ink.

Referring again to Figs. 2-4, the surplus ink vafter issuing from theelongated orifice 48 in all four directions under pressure is removedfrom the etched surface of the cylinder I8 by the reciprocating doctorblade 94 and passes into the reveyed by the pipe I 03 adjustablytelescoped within'the pipe |04 to the outlet chamber |05 in the casting8|. The stuing-box |06 on the upper end of the pipe |04 prevents anyleakage of ink from the two pipes |03 and |04. From the chamber I 05 thesurplus ink passes into the chamber |01 in the casting 18, and thencethrough the interconnected pipes |08, |09 and ||0 into the suction pump|10A secured to the reservoir 55, such pump being driven by means of thechain 6I through the sprocket 62 and shaft H03. This suction pump IIO^is used to discharge the surplus ink through the pipe III into the upperpart of the reservoir 55 above the strainer ||2 (Figs. 1-3) Thearrows inFigs. 1-4 show the path of the surplus ink flowing under normal pressurefrom the surface of the cylinder |8 back into the reservoir 55 Where itis preserved for re-use under forced pressure by the deviceshereinbefore described.

The reciprocating doctor blade construction with associated devices foradjusting and holding the edge of the doctor blade 94 with the requiredpressure on the peripheral surface of the printing cylinder I8 is bestshown in Figs. 1, 4-6, 8 and 10: The slidable L-shaped bar ||3 extendsacross the press, and rests on the casting 4| (Fig. 4) and end walls42and 43 (Figs. 6 and 7) this bar I I3 has a series of slots ||4 (fourbeing shown in Fig. 1) through which the screw-bolts I5 pass and aretapped into the casting 4| (Fig. 4). The washers I|6 are placedbetween'the heads of the bolts ||5 and the elongated top surfaces of theslots ||4 and are held in position by spacers ||1.

At the forward end of the bar ||3 (Figs. 4 and 10) is the transverseplate ||8 held in position by the key ||9 to which the doctor blade 94,spacer |20 and doctor reenforcing blade |2| are fastened by the clampingplate |22 which is held to thev plate ||8 by a series of screw-bolts |23(only one being shown in Figs. 4 and 10) that are tapped into the plateI I8.

At convenient intervals the two adjacent plates ||8 and |22 haveinteriorly threaded sockets |24 into which adjusting screws |25 aretted, the forward ends of the screws |25 bearing against the rear edgeof the doctor blade 94 to adjust the position ofthe doctor blade 94 withreference to the plate ||8.

To removably hold the doctor blade 94 and the several clamping plates inposition on the bar I |3, I have provided a special form of clampingdevice best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 "and 5: Extending lengthwise of theink fountain is the transverse bar |31 adapted to impinge against thedoctor blade 'clamping plate |22. This bar |31 is fastened to the lugs|36 integral with a series of arms |32 by the screws |38.

The arms |32 have trunnions |21 journalled in the brackets |28 which are'fastened to the slidable bar H3. Journalled in the upper portion of thebrackets |28 are the cross pins |29 to which the clamp bolt |30 isfastened, this bolt |36 being screw threaded at its outer end to carrythe knurled nut |34 adapted to abut against the outer face of theU-shaped lugs |33 on the left sides of the arms |32 (Fig. 5). Thetightening of the nuts |34 wilcause the arms |32 and bar |31 to pivotabout the trunnions |21 so that `the downwardly-projecting nose |39 onthe bar |31 will lock the doctor blade 94 with associated plates inposition on the sliding bar ||3.

Conversely when this nut |34 is loosened so as to permit it and the bolt|30 to drop down to the position shown in dotl and dash lines in Fig. 4,the bar |31 and associated arms |32 are free, and may be swung upwardlyto the right (Fig. 4), and thus leave the doctor blade 94 withassociated plates shown in Fig. 10 free and removable. Referring moreparticularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 8, the bar |31 is formed with a series ofspacedapart lugs |40 having their under sides rounded out to receive thecross-rodl |4| secured by screws |43 on the rod 4| between the lugs |40.A series of rock-levers |42 are carried on the rod |4I, such leversbeing located in the spaced openings |44 between the series of lugs |40(Fig. 5). The forward end |45 of the levers |42 are adapta,177,65c n edto bear upon' the spring pressure blade I2 I (Figs. 4 and 10) throughoutthe length of the doctor blade 94, while the upper arms |46 are engagedby the slidable pins |41 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) fitted Within the holes |48drilled in the bar |31. Enclosed within the holes |48 are a series ofcompression springs |50, the forward ends of which bear against the rearendsof the pin |41 while the rear ends of the springs |50 are engaged bythe tips of the adjusting screw-bolts |5| threaded into the rear endsofthe holes |48. By this, mechanism a delicate pressure adjustment maybe yieldingly made upon the doctor blade 94 throughout its width, byadvancing or retracting the screw-bolts |5|,' the'springs 50 imparting avariable yielding pressure through the pins |41 and rock levers |42 onthe forward margin of the pressure blade |2| that bears on the doctorblade 94 throughout its width (Figs. 4, 5 and 10).

Means are provided for reciprocating the doctor blade 94 with an evenuniform speed in all parts of its successive cycles that are best shownin Figs. 1 and 9: The doctor blade carrying slidey bar 3 has pivotedthereto the cam-roller |52 that engages the grooved cam |53 of specialformation to impart a uniform movement to the bar |3, which cam |53 ismounted on the short shaft |54 journalled in a pair of bracket bearings|55 secured within the cam casing |56 that is fastened to the casting 4|by any suitable means.

The shaft |54 carries the worm gear |51 that is actuated by the worm |58fastened to the stub-shaft |59 journalled in the cam casing |56 (Fig.9). The lower end of the shaft |59 carries universal joint member |609to which is pivoted the shaft |6| within which is telescoped the shaft|62 which through the vslidable coupling |63 causes the shaft |6| to berotated in any position depending on the relative positions of the inkfountain and associated devices on the arms 30 and 3 I.

The shaft |62 is pivotally connected by the universal joint member |64to the shaft |65 that has keyed thereto the bevel gear |66. The bevelgear |66 is journalled in the bearing |61 on the standard |68 that issupported on the base I1. The bevel gear |66 meshes with the bevel gear|69 fastened to the end of the horizontal drive shaft |10 that isjournalled in the standards 26 and |66 (Fig. 1). The outer end of theshaft |10 carries the gear |1| that is driven by the idler gear |12which in turn is driven by the gear |13 secured to the shaft 25 which isdriven from the power shaft 28 as hereinbefore described.

In Figs. 11-14, I have shown a modified form of my invention in whichthe doctor blade is located below the pressure chambers, whichmodication is substantially similar to that shown in Figs. 1-10 whichhas been hereinbefore described except that it is arranged to providedrainage of the surplus ink. Fig. 12. shows the different positions forthe fountain and doctor blade on either side of the printing cylinderdependent upon the direction of rotation of such cylinder. In describingthe construction shown in Figs. 11-14, the same reference numerals willbe used to identify similar parts in the Figs. 1-10 construction, so faras possible.

Referring to Figs. 11, 13 and 14, to the irregularly shaped casting 4|are fastened the same end walls 42 and 43, and the casting 4| is alsosimilarly mounted between the press frames I5 and I6. The forward end ofthe inner presuidy ink being under .pressure during its travel V 20 |84to the outlet pipe |88. The surplus ink removed by the undershot doctorblade 84 passes above the lplate |18V through the series of channels I82(Figs. 13 and 14) into the chambers |88 and then through the port |84 tothe outlet pipe 25 |88; 'I'he arrows in Figs. 11, 13 and 14 indicate thedirection of ink flow in this construction.

The doctor blade slidable bar I3 is held tothe casting 4| by the-seriesof screw-bolts ||5 that pass through slots ||4 and are tapped into the fcasting 4| in the same ways as in the Figs'. 1-10 construction. However,I have provided compresysion, springs |85 coiled about the bolts ||5 be-`tween their heads and the washers ||6 to afford a yielding attachmentto the casting 4|. Also -5 pivoted on the trunnions |21 is the clampingbar |31 that holds the doctor blade mechanism in position on the barl|I3,'which bar |31 is removably held in position by the'screw-bolts |38fastened into the cross-pin |28 with the bolts |38 maintained within thelugs |33 by the nuts |34 as in the Figs. 1-10 construction. The devicesfor holding and adjusting the position of the doctor blade 84,coupledwith the mechanism for VWariably adjusting the pressure along thewidth f the doctor blade' 84 are the same as the similar devices andmechanisms shown and described with reference tothe Figs. 1-10construction and need not again be described in connection with thestructures shown in Figs. 11-14. v

The several operations of the various different mechanisms and devicesin my improved gravure press have already been described in conjunctionwith the separate descriptions of their structural details as embodiedin the press. However, the genral operations may be summarized asfollows: After the printing cylinder I8 has been installed in the pressframes` I5 and I8 with its driving coupling connections with the powershaft 28, the swinging arms 38 and 3|' are located to suit the directionof cylinder rotation by means of the latchpins 32 that engage the pressframes I5 and I6. Then the guide brackets 33 are raised or lowered onthe arms 38 and 3| by the bolts 35 to accommodate for the 65 size of theyprinting-cylinder I8. The'ink fountain, particularly the elongatedorince in the 1 pressure chamber 44, is thenadjusted to theperipheralfsurfac'e of the cylinder I8 approxi- .mately to' thepositions as shown in Fig. 4, with throughout the 1ength of the doctorblade s4 asl has been hereinbefore described.

When the ink fountain anddoctor blade constructions carried by thecross-plate 48 that is fastened to the guide brackets 33 are broughtinto operative position, the slidable pipe connections through thetelescoped pipes 83, 84 and |83, |84 are brought into position throughthe casting 8| rotating on the casting 18 and the casting 81 rotating onthe casting 88 as has been heretofore described, the stuffing-boxes 85and |86 permitting the pipe connections to be lengthened or shortened asrequired.

In like manner the shaft |54 with the cam |53 that reciprocates thedoctor blade 84 is brought into position in setting up the ink fountainas set forth in the preceding paragraph, with the telescoped shafts |6|and I 62 adjustable through the coupling |63 and deriving theirrevolutions from the shaft |18. vthe cam-roller |52 on the bar ||3imparting to the latter the reciprocatory movement for the doctor blade94.

The liquid ink under pressure from the centrifugal pump in the casting18 in the Figs. 1-10 construction -is forced against the peripheralsurface of the cylinder I8 through the elongated orifice 48 and thenescapes in all four directions around the edges of the plate 46 and 41forming the orifice 48 as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. Above the plate 46 thesurplus ink is removed by the doctor b1ade`94; the ink issuing below theplate 41 is caught by the under blade 95,- and both streams of surplusink as shown by the arrows in Figs. 3 and 4 are collected in the chamber99 and then returned to the reservoir 55 by the pipe connectionsheretofore described.

In the modified Figs. 11-14 construction, the liquid ink under pressurefrom the pump -is forced against the cylinder I8 through the elongatedoriflce |16, and escapes in all four directions around the thin plates|11 and |18 (Figs.

11 and 13). 'I'he surplus ink is collected by removal from the cylinderI8 by the top plate |18 and undershot doctor blade 84, and is thenreturned by the channels |82 into the chambers |83 from which it flowsthrough the port |84l and the outlet pipe |88 to the pipe connectionsthat convey this ink back to the reservoir 55 as hereinbefore described.'I'he arrows in Figs. 11 and 13 show the path of the liquid ink to andfrom the surface of the printing-cylinder I8.

Referring to Fig. 12, 4the cylinder I8 is shown as being rotated ineither direction. -When rotating in a clockwise direction, the inkfountains and associated doctor blade devices will be arg ranged asshown in dot and dash outline, while the full line positions of thesedevices show their respective positions when the cylinder I8 isrevolving in an anti-clockwise direction.

It` will be observed them very delicate ad- `iustment of pressure on thedoctor blade 84 is obtained through the yielding control of the seriesof rock-levers |42 that bear on the spring pressure blade I 2| whichcoacts with the front edge devices shown more particularly in Figs. 6and 7 with all surplusini returned to the reservoir for preservation andre-use. v

Furthermore I maintain a body of ink under inder I 8 with the body ofink preferably in contact with the design under pressure in a narrowsolid stream longitudinally disposed along the cylinder' surface toforcethe ink positively -into the rdepressions of the design, with 'thesurplus ink not taken by the design flowing away from body of ink underpressure, which surplus is then conveyed through a closed circulatingsystem that includes the closed reservoir of ink 55 back 4to the body ofink that impinges in a continuous solid stream on the cylinder` surface.

In the mechanisms shown I use devices forming an elongated orifice orslot extending the length of the cylinder I8 for supplying ink underpressure to the ldesign on the cylinder. Such slotted member ispositioned between the walls ofthe surrounding chamber that is alsofilled with ink, such member removing surplus :ink from the cylinder,chiefly on both longitudinal sides of such slotted member. Hence thevolume of ink in excess of thatrequired for inking vthe cylinder isdirected into the design not only to remove all dirt, ink residues andother foreign matter, but also to sweep out all air from 'thedepressions in the design aswell as to displace the film of air carriedon the surface of the rapidly rotating cylinder I 8;.

My invention, in its broadert aspects, is not limited to the particularconstruction and arrangement of the ink fountains, doctor blades andassociated mechanisms including the pump and pipe connections as shownin the gravure printing-press villustrated in the drawings, since manychanges may be made without departing from the main principlesof theinvention and without sacrificing its chief advantages in use.Furthermore my improvements may be embodied in gravure presses ofvarious types where it is particularly desirable to secure delicatepressure adjustments for the removal of surplus ink as well as to securethe proper distribution ,of-A ink on the peripherally etched surfacesofthe printing cylinders as wellas to prevent any escape of surplus inkand volatile-solvents usedtherein.

I claim as my'invention: 3' l 1. In a gravure printing-press, a printingcylinder, a reciprocatingdoctor blade coacting with said cylinder,anfindependent yielding reenforcing member bearing on said blade, andmeans for variably and yieldingly exerting pressure on said reenforcingmember on spaced-apart portions thereof throughout its lengthi':

2. In a gravure printing-press, a printing cylinder, a reciprocatingdoctor blade coacting with said cylinder, an independent yieldingreenforcing member bearing on said blade, and a series of spaced-apartspring-actuated rock-levers bearing on said-reenforcing memberI forexerting independently-controlled yielding pressure through spaced-apartportions of said reenforcing member invyielding contact on s aid doctorblade throughout its length whilethe press is in operation. 1

3. The method of rotary intaglio printing which comprises circulatingink through a system and maintaining a confined body of ink therefromunder pressure against a rotating printing cylinder to cleanse andinkthe design thereon..

4. Ihe method of rotary intaglio printing which comprises circulatingink through a closed system and maintaining a body of ink'therefromunderffconstant pressure against a rotating print-' ing cylinder tocleanse and inl; the design 'there-,f

n' "-f-ic. 5. The method of rotary intaglio printing which pressureagainst the moving intaglio printing cylcomprisescirculating ink in aclosed system including a reservoir of ink forcing a body of ink fromsaid reservoir underconstant pressure against the moving printingcylinder to cleanse and ink the design thereon, and returning surplusink from the impact to the reservoir.

6. The method of rotary intaglio printing which comprises circulatingink in a closed system including a reservoir of ink, forcing a body ofink from said reservoir'in a solid stream under constant pressureagainst the moving printing cylinder 'to cleanse and ink the designthereon', and returning surplus ink from the impact to the reservoir.

7. The method of rotary intaglio printing which comprises circulatingink in a closed system, including a reservoir of ink spaced apart fromthe printing cylinder, forcing a body of ink from said reservoir in asolid stream under constant pres- -sure against the moving printingcylinder to I cleanse and ink the designs thereon, and returning surplusink from the impact to the reservoir.

8. The method of rotary intaglio printing which comprises maintaining abody of ink under constant pressure directly applied as a solid bodyagainst a rotating printing cylinder and longitudinally thereof tocleanse and ink the design thereon, and forcing surplus ink to escapeonly at the outer edges of said body along and in contact with thecylinderl surface.

9. In the method of inking a rotary intaglio cylinder, the' step whichconsists in maintaining a confined body of ink in a flowing stream underpressure against the moving cylinder to cleanse and ink the designthereon while removing surplus ink therefrom at points spaced from saidbody in contact with the cylinder surface.

10. In'the method of inking a rotary intaglio cylinder, the step whichconsists in maintaining a confined body of ink in a flowing 'streamunder pressure against the moving cylinder tof cleanse and ink thedesign thereon while removing sur-- plus ink ytherefrom at points spacedfrom said turning same to the body of ink.

11. In a gravure printing-press, a closed ink circulating systemincluding4 means for maintaining a body of ink underconstant pressureagainst a moving printingcylinder to cleanse and ink the A designthereon, means for conveying surplus ink away from the cylinder, andmeans for returning the surplus ink to said body under pressure.

12. In a rotary gravure printing-press, a closed ink reservoir, a closedpressure system for conveying ink from said reservoir under constantpressure against a moving printing cylinder to cleansel and ink thedesign Vthereon and for thereafter returning the surplus ink to saidreservoir.

13. In a rotary gravure printing-press, a closed ink reservoir, a closedsystem including means for conveying ink from the reservoir to a print--ing cylinder and maintaining a body of ink in 2,177,656 the surfaceofthe cylinder, the doctor and one v side of said member providing apassageway for ink flowing away from the cylinder.

15. An inking mechanism for a rotary gravure printing-press comprisingan ink-confining member having a slot extending longitudinally of theprinting cylinder and adjacent thereto through which slot ink underconstant pressure is-forced Vagainst the moving cylinder to cleanse andink the design thereon, a slottedchamber directly adjacent to the firstslot to convey surplus ink from \said'cylinder, and a doctor for wipingthe surface of the cylinder.

16. An inking mechanism for a rotary gravure printing-press comprisingan ink-confining membei' having a slot extending longitudinally of theprinting cylinder and adjacent thereto. means for maintaining a body ofink in said slot under constant pressure to cleanse and ink the designon said cylinder, a doctor for removing ink from the surface of thecylinder, the doctor and one side of the member providing a passagewayfor the ink flowing away from the cylinder, the slot and said passagewaybeing substantially coextensive.

17. An inking mechanism for a rotary gravure printing-press comprisingan ink-confining member having a slot extending 'longitudinally of the.

printing cylinder, means for maintaining a body of ink in said slotunder constant pressure to cleanse and ink the design. on said cylinder,said slot being Aadjacent thereto for conveying surplus ink therefromand a doctor for removing ink from the surface of the cylinder, thedoctor forming o ne side of a slotted chamber directly adjacent to saidslot.

18. In an inking mechanism for a rotary gravure printing-press, achamber extending longitudinally of the printing cylinder and having anopen side arranged against the cylinder, an ink supply member within thechamber having a slot extending longitudinally of the cylinder insubstantially sealing contact therewith for maintaining a body of inkin'said slot under constant pressure to cleanse and ink the design onsaid cylinder, said member being positioned tosprovide an outlet betweenit and the chamber, and

means for supplying ink to the member.

19. In an inking mechanism for a rotary gravure vprinting-press, achamber extending longitudinally of the printing cylinder and having anopenv side arranged against the cylinder, an ink supply member withinthe chamber having a slot extending longitudinally of the cylinder` insubstantially sealing contact therewith vfor maintaining a body of inkin said'slot underconstant pressure to cleanse and ink the design onsaid cylinder, said member being positioned within the chamber toprovide outlets on either side of the member through which ink from thecylinder.

20. In an inking mechanism :for a rotary gramam flow vureprinting-press,4 achamber extending lon-v means for supplying ink to themember and a doctor for wiping thesurface of the cylindenthe doctorforming a wall of the chamber.

2l. In a printing-press', a printing cylinder rotatable in eitherdirection, means for forcing liquid ink in a solid stream under pressureagainst the surface of said rotating cylinder, said means being arrangedradially to said cylinder, said inking means being shiftable to eitherside of the vertical diameter of said cylinder. l

22.- In a printing-press, a printing cylinder rotatable in eitherdirection, an ink distribution device for forcing liquid ink in a solidstream under pressure against the surface of said rotating cylinder,said device being arranged radially to said cylinder and to beadjustable for cylinders of different sizes, said device being shift-'able to either side of the vertical diameter of said cylinder.

23. In a gravure printing-press, a printing cylinder, an inkingmechanism therefor comprising a receiving chamber for surplus inkcoacting with a portion of said cylinder surface to form a seal, meansfor adjusting the position of said inking mechanism to accommodate forcylinders of different sizes while holding the sealing relation of saidchamber in respect to the cylinder surfaces, said inking mechanismbeingshiftable to either side of the vertical diameter` of said cylinder fordiierent directions of rotation thereof.

24. An inking mechanism for a rotary gravure printing-press comprisingan ink-confining member having a slot extending longitudinally of, andadjacent to, the printing cylinder, means for maintaining a body of inkin said slot under constant pressure to cleanse and ink the design onsaid cylinder, an outlet chamber adjoining said slot for conveyingsurplus ink from the cylinder surface, a doctor for removing-.ink fromlthecylinder, the doctor forming oney side of said outlet chamber, and apump and conduits for supplying ink to and carrying ink from the member.

25. An inking mechanism for a rotary gravure A printing-press comprisingan ink-conning member having aslot extending longitudinally of, andadjacent to, the printing cylinder, means for maintaining a body of inkin said slot under constant pressure to cleanse and ink the design onsaid cylinder, an outlet, chamber adjoining said slot for conveyingsurplus ink from the cylinder surface, a doctor for removing ink fromthe cylinder, the doctor forming one side of said outlet .chamberadjacent said slot, and a pump and conduits for supplying ink to andcarrying ink from the member, said pump and conduits forming a closedpressure system for the circulation of ink.

26. In the4 method of inking a rotary intaglio cylinder, the steps whichconsist in maintaining a confined lbody of ink under constant pressureVthe design thereon, while controlling thethickness of the ink nlmadhering to the cylinder,and

thereafter removing the ink film from the periph.'

eral surface of the cylinder at points spaced from said body of ink.

28. In a gravure printing-press, a closed ink circulating systemincluding means for maintaining a conflned body of ink under constantpressure against a moving printing cylinder to cleanse and ink thedesign thereon, means associated with said last-mentioned means forrestricting the thickness of the ink lm adhering to said cylinder, andmeans for removing the ink lm from the peripheral surface of thecylinder at points spaced from said body of ink.

29. In a gravure printing-press, a closed ink m circulating systemincluding means for mainl CHRISTEN R. KADDELAND.

